Raikkonen again quickest at Bahrain test

Brazilian Felipe Massa on Wednesday joined his Finnish teammate at Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen, for a third day of testing the Italian team's latest Formula One car, the F2008, at the 5.412-kilometer (3.36-mile) Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir.

But Massa could do little to slow Raikkonen, who again set fastest times at the Asian circuit that will play host to the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 6. The Finn, who posted a lap of 1 minute, 30.595 seconds Tuesday, quickened his pace to a 1:30.455 Wednesday in driving 74 laps.

Massa drove a best time of 1:31.293 in 73 laps. The two race drivers worked on the car's general development and compared set-ups.

Also testing at Sakhir were Toyota race driver Jarno Trulli and test driver Kamui Kobayashi, who covered 150 laps in working on race condition set-ups on the TF108. Trulli's quick lap was timed in 1:32.145 and Kobayashi's in 1:32.265.

Toyota senior general manager for chassis Pascal Vasselon said the team gathered a great deal of data. He pronounced the three-day test useful.

Both teams will stay in Bahrain, where they will be joined by other teams for additional testing scheduled to begin Saturday.

The Formula One season begins March 16 in Australia.